Croydon

Croydon's population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in ethnicity, relationships and housing tenure.

The population passed 360,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Croydon increased by 9.9%, from almost 331,000 to 363,000.

The addition of just under 33,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Croydon was home to, on average, 30 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Croydon

Latest census data also show that the median age of Croydon remained 35 years in the decade to 2011.

This urban area had a higher average age than London and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 9,500 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 15.0% of people in Croydon are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Croydon by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Croydon

In 2011, 20.2% of Croydon residents said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 13.3% in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 10.9% to 13.3%, while across England the percentage went from 2.4% to 3.6%.

Around 55.1% of people in Croydon said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 70.2% in 2001. About 16.4% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 12.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 3.7% to 6.6%.

The population from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups in Croydon increased by 6.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Croydon by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Croydon, which comprised a single parent, increased from 12.5% to 16.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (30.0%) households had a married couple, compared with 32.4% in 2001. The percentage of households in Croydon, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.4% to 8.0%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased faster here than the figure for the whole of London (from 11.1% in 2001 to 12.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Croydon increased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Croydon, London and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

Croydon saw London's third-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just under one in nine (10.6%) households in Croydon had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 9.1% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 32.3% to 35.2%.

Across the region, only Harrow (from 11.8% to 13.5%) and Hillingdon (from 10.3% to 11.8%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

During this period, Croydon overtook four local authority areas, including Bromley and Ealing, to become the London local authority area with the 10th-highest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across London

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Croydon residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.6%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Croydon remained close to 1.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Croydon by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Croydon

The percentage of Croydon residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.5%, while the percentage of Croydon residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.4% to 6.1%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (which remained close to 91.6%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Croydon at a faster rate than in Bromley (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Croydon).

In Croydon, the proportion of private renting increased from 13.0% in 2001 to 21.0% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Bromley increased from 8.5% to 13.3%.

Across London, the share of privately rented homes increased from 15.3% to 25.1%.

The rate of social housing in Croydon increased from 16.7% to 17.9%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 68.1% to 58.8%.

Private renting in Croydon increased by 8.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Croydon, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Croydon

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Croydon was among those who said they had no religion, rising 5.6 points.

In 2011, 21.6% of respondents in Croydon gave this religion on the census compared with 16.0% of those who answered in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.3% to 22.6%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 61.1% said they were Christian, compared with 70.8% in 2001. About 8.8% said they were Muslim, compared with 5.8% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Sikh increased from 0.4% to 0.4%.

In Croydon, 7.6% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 8.1% in 2001. In London, 8.5% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Croydon increased by 5.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, London and Croydon by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Croydon

The percentage of adults in Croydon that were married decreased from 46.4% to 43.2% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (39.7%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 35.6% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Croydon that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11.0% to 11.6%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 41.7% in 2001 to 40.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 50.6% to 46.6%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Croydon residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.6% to 4.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83.4%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70.7% in 2001. The percentage of Croydon residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.7% to 12.0%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Croydon decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Croydon, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Croydon working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 11.7% to 8.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 13.2% in 2001 to 11.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Croydon decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Croydon, London and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Croydon residents that were unemployed increased from 3.9% to 5.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (52.7%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 55.0% in 2001. The percentage of Croydon residents that were self-employed increased from 8.6% to 10.3%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 4.4% in 2001 to 5.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Croydon increased by 1.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Croydon, London and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

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